It is very important that you measure the width of your boards and make sure they are 5 1/2" wide (tabletop boards) otherwise, your aprons could be short or long. See the Square Modern Farm Table Plans for a tutorial on how to build the tabletop first with pocket hole screws, and then attach the legs and aprons. That way you can adjust your aprons as necessary.

Tools

Instructions

Step 1

Start by taking 2 of the leg pieces, A and marking 1 1/2" down from the top, and 1 1/2" in from the outer edge. Then screw one of B, the outside end support, to the two legs as shown above. Do the same for the other set of legs.

Step 2

Now add the side aprons, C, as shown above, screwing into the end support, B. Also, screw through the outside of A, the legs, into the end edges of C, the side apron. Now is a good time to check for square. If you do not know how to check for square, see the HOW-TO section for a tutorial.

Step 3

Now add the end aprons, D, screwing into B, the end supports. Again, check for square.

Step 4

Measure down 1 1/2" down from the top of the side apron, and mark all the way down the length of the apron. This will be the top side of the tabletop support pieces, E. Then mark every 6" and place a board E, keeping the top edge 1 1/2" below the top of the table, as shown above. Do not worry about the last support piece not being exactly 6" from the end - this does not matter. Make sure your project is square.

Step 5

Step 6

Screw pattern for the tabletop pieces shown above.

Step 7

Flip the table over on it's top and predril through all the 2x2 support pieces, drilling two holes per tabletop piece, per support piece. You will drill a total of 108 holes. Screw the top to the 2x2 support pieces through the predrilled holes.

Finishing Instructions

Preparation Instructions

Fill holes with putty and finish as desired. If you are staining the table, you may wish to fill the screw holes after staining, as wood putty does not stain the same color as natural wood.

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Comments

i just came across this plan and i am super excited to build it. hoping to have it done before new baby comes in october. my question: we need it to seat at least 8 people preferable 10. i am comfortable doing the modifications but will the 2x6 legs be enough support or should i make it 2 2x6 like someone else suggested?

I discovered your website from my sister. I want to build this table but i was wondering if you can modify to fit 8 people. I have a big family and I really like this table, i saw somewhat similar table at Pier 1 its to expensive. If you have time.....Thank you....

[...] a step-by-step (sorta) through my furniture build adventure. Props go out to Ana White for her blueprint on this. And I gotta say, there’s nothing more fulfilling as a dude than to wield a power [...]

We're almost done this (I say "we" but I've been sick in bed most of the week-end and my husband has done most of everything, including running after our baby and toddler!). We've only hit two snaggles thus far: 1. When we measured the tabletop after we got home from Lowe's and everything was already cut, the table supports and the short aprons were a little too long. (We wish we'd done a rough assembly at Lowe's so we wouldn't have had to cut those parts again at a friend's). 2. When drilling for the tabletop supports, the instructions said to mark out every 6 inches, which would require 9 supports instead of the 7 in the cut list. Basically, we just dropped the marks on the end and started 15 inches in from the edge. Maybe we didn't read it correctly, but this all worked out fine in the end. Thanks!

[...] Elm/Crate & Barrel, in addition to her own designs. I fell in love with the look of a farmhouse table and bench set (especially when stained like this), and emailed the links to the bf with just [...]

Hello! I really liked the finished picture (the 4th one down). This is exactly the type of table I've been looking for but they all are so expensive in the stores. Also, do you happen to know what's the name of the teal wall paint in that picture? Thanks!

Thank you for posting, this is what I have had in my head for our family. We are a family of 5 and we have grown out of our 4 top table. This is what I have been explaining to my husband what I want. Maybe seeing your plans will help me give my husband a clear picture of what I want.